Biography: Maria is a first-generation queer Latina student from Fresno, California. Maria will be the first in her extended and immediate family to have a bachelor’s degree next year. She has two younger siblings and as the eldest daughter going to a top university was her biggest dream. Getting to UCLA was a life-changing experience for her, where she learned more about herself and her passions. Maria has had many opportunities at UCLA. One passion of hers is to help others achieve their goals and learn more about their own passions. Her dream job is to become a teacher and to help others find the best version of themselves.
 

Future Plans: Currently, Maria is at UCLA pursuing her degree in Education and Social Transformation and Economics with a minor Accounting. Her dream job is to become a teacher in either accounting or at the K-12 level, or both. After graduating, Maria will first continue her work in the accounting world as an auditor. She will strive to obtain her CPA license as she will be eligible for it as soon as she graduates. Eventually, she will go back to school for her double master’s in Education and Accounting and start teaching at a university and/or at a K-12 school. She will fulfill her dreams as an educator who helps other students achieve their dreams.
 

What this scholarship means to me: Getting this scholarship will have a significant impact on my academic and personal growth. In terms of money, it will release a big weight, letting me concentrate more on my studies instead of stressing about how I’m going to pay for tuition and other costs, especially since I pay for college on my own. With this funding, I will be able to buy necessary supplies, participate more in my extracurricular activities, and potentially cut down on the number of hours I work part-time, which would free up more time for me to devote to my senior capstone requirement and complete my educational career at UCLA. Additionally, it shows that my efforts and commitment have been acknowledged, which gives me more confidence and inspires me to aim for even higher academic and personal accomplishments. 

More importantly, this scholarship means a great deal to me personally. As someone whose life has always been impacted by financial difficulties, this scholarship means more than just a cash prize. It represents possibility and hope; especially as a first-generation student from immigrant parents. It gives me confidence that I am headed in the right direction and that I can achieve my goals. With this scholarship, I am more motivated than ever to succeed academically and eventually give back to my community by assisting others in realizing and accomplishing their passions in the same way that this scholarship is helping me in achieving mine.